HISTORY OF VERMONT. S5S 



earcs, and such a variety of business, with his 

 utmost exertions he could not reach Albany- 

 till the second week in July. Oswego, by tlie 

 route which was usual at that time, was esti- 

 mated to be nearly three hundred miles west of 

 Albany. The passage was partly by land, but 

 chiefly by' water, upon tlic Mohawk and Onon- 

 daga rivers ; and at every season of the year 

 was both difficult and dangerous. A large 

 number of batteaux had been prepared for the 

 conveyance of the troops, stores and provisions. 

 riie fort at Oswego was of but little strength 

 and much out of repair. It was formerly gar- 

 risoned by twenty five men ; but on the com- 

 mencement of the late controversies, the garri- 

 son was augmented to fifty men. Early in the 

 spring, another company of fifty men had been 

 ordered to that station ; and in the latter end of 

 May, captain Broadstreet arrived with two hun- 

 dred more, and a number of workmen. Schuy- 

 ler\s regiment from New Jersey had embarked 

 for that place, the beginning of July ; and Shir- 

 ley's and Pepperell's regiments were preparing 

 to follow. 



At this time the news arrived of Braddock's 

 defeat ; and was announced in terms more hor- 

 rid, awful and alarming than were just, 'llic 

 reports had an unhappy effect on the spirits and 

 conduct of the English troops. Suspecting and 

 dreading another Indian massacre, some desert- 

 ed ; and of the batteau men, not a few left the 

 service. The Indians of the six nations appear- 

 ed to be disinclined to hostilities ; and were un- 

 willing that the operations of the war should be 

 earried into the western country ; which they 



